JP5178872B2 - Cooler - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooler that cools a power conversion device such as a semiconductor module.

A power converter arrange | positions power converters, such as a semiconductor module which is a heat generating body, on a cooler, and discharge | releases heat to a refrigerant | coolant through a cooler.
In recent years, the amount of heat generated by the power conversion device has increased with the increase in the output of the electric motor, and the need to greatly improve the cooling performance of the cooler has increased.
However, motors are required not only to have high output but also to be miniaturized, and there are also small motors with low output.
For this reason, there are various power converters for each motor to be used, and if the cooler is designed to match the output of the motor, it is difficult to divert the cooler to other power converters, and production is not possible. The cost reduction at the time was hindered.

  As a conventional cooler for a force conversion device, a cooling device in which a large number of cooling fins made of a thin plate member whose surface is processed such as dimples is arranged at predetermined intervals along the air flow direction is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, as a conventional power converter cooler, a plurality of cooling fins are arranged in parallel so that adjacent cooling fins face each other, and the height of each cooling fin is formed higher toward the inner side in the arrangement direction. In addition, a cooling fin having a notch and a hole is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 4585881 JP 2008-10820 A

Both of the above coolers are highly productive because they are formed simply by processing the plate material as cooling fins. Furthermore, the cooling fin pitch and cooling fin height are easy to change, and the design flexibility is high, so it can be diverted to multiple models. However, there were the following problems.
The cooler of Patent Document 1 assumes air as a refrigerant, cooling fins are arranged along the air flow direction, and the air flows in one direction along the cooling fins, and the pressure loss is low. A turbulent flow cannot be positively generated with respect to air, and a high heat transfer coefficient cannot be obtained.

  Further, the cooler of Patent Document 2 is assumed to be air as a refrigerant in the same manner as that of Patent Document 1, and the height of the cooling fins is set so as to correspond to air in which the flow direction is not fixed in all directions. The inner one in the arrangement direction is made higher, and is not suitable for a cooler in which a refrigerant flows in a fixed direction such as a liquid-cooled cooler.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such problems, and to obtain a cooler capable of mass production, diversion to other models, and exhibiting high cooling performance. Objective.

The cooler according to the present invention includes a frame, a first plate and a second plate which are provided on both sides of the frame and form a space for closing the refrigerant in cooperation with the frame, and the frame. A refrigerant inflow portion for introducing the refrigerant into the space; a refrigerant outflow portion for outflowing the refrigerant in the space; and a plurality of cooling fins arranged in parallel in the space;
The cooling fin has a communication portion through which the refrigerant passes,
The refrigerant that has flowed into the space from the refrigerant inflow portion flows out through the communication portion and the refrigerant outflow portion ,
In the cooling fins, the communication portions are formed in a plurality of different shapes, and the same cooling fins are sequentially arranged 180 degrees upside down or left and right .

  According to the cooler for a power conversion device according to the present invention, the cooling fin is formed with a communication portion through which the refrigerant passes, and the refrigerant flowing into the space from the refrigerant inflow portion is externally passed through the communication portion and the refrigerant outflow portion. Therefore, the cooling capacity can be changed by changing the number of cooling fins arranged, and can be diverted to multiple models.

It is an internal top view which shows the cooler for power converters of Embodiment 1 of this invention. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing the cooling fin of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a modification of the cooling fin. It is a distribution map which shows the flow velocity distribution of the refrigerant | coolant inside the cooler for power converters of FIG. It is an internal top view which shows the cooler for power converters of Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB showing the cooling fin of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a modification of the cooling fin. It is an internal top view which shows the cooler for power converters of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is arrow sectional drawing along CC line which shows the cooling fin of FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing along the DD line which shows the cooling fin of FIG. It is a figure which shows the bending in the cooling fin of the cooler for power converters.

  Hereinafter, the power converter cooler according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent members and parts will be described with the same reference numerals.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is an internal top view showing a power converter cooler (hereinafter abbreviated as a cooler) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a) is an AA showing cooling fins 5 of FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing along the line.
This cooler is a cooler that is in surface contact with the bottom surface of the power converter, and includes a frame 1 made of aluminum die casting, and water that is a coolant in cooperation with the frame 1 provided on both sides of the frame 1. The first plate 2 and the second plate 3 that form a space for closing, a plurality of cooling fins 5 housed in the space, and the tip portion attached to one side of the edge of the frame 1 A refrigerant inflow portion 6 and a refrigerant outflow portion 7 attached to the other side of the edge of the frame 1 in parallel with the refrigerant inflow portion 6 are provided.
The frame 1 has a fitting portion 4 in which a plurality of concave and convex portions are formed on the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 8 side. The end portions of the cooling fins 5 are fitted into the recessed portions of the fitting portions 4, and the cooling fins 5 are arranged in parallel with each other.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 (a), each cooling fin 5 is formed with notches 8a and 8b which are communicating portions at equal intervals along the refrigerant flow direction at the upper and lower portions, respectively, by pressing. . The notches 8a and 8b are formed so as not to face each other.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the cooling fins 5A are formed by pressing the holes 11a and 11b which are communicating portions at equal intervals along the refrigerant flow direction at the upper and lower portions, respectively. Also good.

  In the cooler, the refrigerant enters the forward flow path 9 inside the frame 1 from the refrigerant inflow portion 6. While this refrigerant flows in the direction of arrow A in the forward flow path 9, it also flows in the direction of arrow B perpendicular to arrow A through the notches 8a and 8b in the middle. They merge in the flow path 10, flow in the direction of arrow C in the return flow path 10, and flow out to the outside through the refrigerant outflow portion 7.

According to the cooler according to this embodiment, the cooling fins 5 and 5A can form the notches 8a and 8b and the holes 11a and 11b by press working, and the productivity of the cooling fins 5 and 5A is improved. high.
Further, the cooling fins 5 and 5A are formed with notches 8a and 8b and holes 11a and 11b, which are communication portions that connect the forward flow path 9 and the return flow path 10, so that the refrigerant Since the flow is diverted from the flow path 9 through the notches 8a and 8b and the holes 11a and 11b and flows to the return flow path 10, the refrigerant is likely to generate turbulence and the heat transfer rate of the cooler is high.

In addition, the frame body 1 can be used as it is to easily reduce the heat transfer coefficient and pressure loss of the cooler by changing the number of cooling fins 5 and 5A and the dimensions of the notches 8a and 8b and the holes 11a and 11b. Because it can be adjusted, it can be diverted to multiple models.
Moreover, since it can be diverted to multiple models, the frame body 1 can be mass-produced and the cost can be reduced.
Further, each cooling fin 5, 5 </ b> A can be easily positioned and assembled to the frame body 1 by fitting the end part thereof into the recess formed in the fitting part 4 of the frame body 1. There is no need to provide a member for supporting 5 and 5A, productivity is improved and cost is reduced.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a distribution diagram showing the flow velocity distribution inside the cooler of FIG.
As can be seen from this figure, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the forward flow path 9 to the return flow path 10 decreases as the distance from the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 7 increases. Therefore, the heat transfer coefficient of the cooler decreases as the distance from the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 7 increases.
The cooler of the second embodiment is made to eliminate this inconvenience.

4 is an internal top view showing a cooler according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB showing the cooling fins of FIG.
In this embodiment, the cutout portions 18a and 18b, which are communication portions of the cooling fins 15, are formed so that the width dimension along the refrigerant flow direction increases as the distance from the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 7 increases. .
By doing so, the closer to the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 7, the greater the flow resistance of the refrigerant flowing from the forward flow path 9 to the return flow path 10, as indicated by the arrow B, and the inside of the cooler. As a whole, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the forward flow path 9 to the return flow path 10 is equalized, and uneven cooling performance can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 5 (b), cooling fins 15A in which holes 21a and 21b, which are communication portions having large diameters along the refrigerant flow direction, are formed in the upper and lower portions by pressing. It may be.
Other configurations are the same as those of the cooler of the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
6 is an internal top view showing a cooler according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C showing cooling fin 25 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a cooling fin in FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing along the DD line which shows.
In this embodiment, the cooling fin 25 has a large hole portion 31a which is a large-diameter communication portion and a small hole portion 31b which is a small-diameter communication portion alternately formed in the upper and lower portions along the refrigerant flow direction. Yes. Further, the large hole portion 31a and the small hole portion 31b are disposed so as to be opposed to the upper portion and the lower portion of the cooling fin 25, respectively.
In addition, each cooling fin 25 is fitted into the recess of the fitting portion 4 by turning the cooling fin 25 up and down 180 degrees with respect to the adjacent cooling fin 25 or turning 180 degrees left and right.
Further, the upper end surface of each cooling fin 25 and the first plate 2 and the lower end surface of each cooling fin 25 and the second plate 3 are welded by brazing.
Other configurations are the same as those of the cooler of the first embodiment.

In the cooler of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the refrigerant flowing from the forward flow path 9 to the return flow path 10 alternately passes through the large hole portion 31a and the small hole portion 31b of the cooling fin 2 on the way, The turbulent flow is more likely to occur, and the heat transfer rate can be increased more effectively.
Further, by arranging one kind of cooling fins 25 upside down, left and right and sequentially arranging them, turbulent flow can be generated in the refrigerant, and only one mold is necessary for producing the cooling fins 25. Therefore, a low-cost and high-performance cooler can be manufactured.

In the cooler, since the refrigerant flows through the large hole portion 31a that is the communication portion and the small hole portion 8b that is the communication portion, the cooling fin 25 receives pressure on its surface when passing through the cooling fin 25. When no countermeasure is taken against pressure, bending occurs as shown in FIG.
For this, since the upper end surface of each cooling fin 25 and the first plate 2 and the lower end surface of each cooling fin 25 and the second plate 3 are welded by brazing, The bending deformation of the cooling fin 25 can be prevented, and the first plate 2 and the second plate 3 and the cooling fin 25 are metal-bonded, and the first plate 2 and the second plate 3 and the cooling fin 25 are combined. The thermal resistance between the two can be reduced.
Of course, the cooling fins 5 and 5A of the first embodiment and the cooling fins 15 and 15A of the second embodiment are brazed to the first plate 2 and the second plate 3 as in the third embodiment. You may make it weld with.

In each of the above embodiments, the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 7 are provided at the edge on the same side of the frame 1, but the refrigerant inflow portion 6 and the refrigerant outflow portion 7 are diagonal portions of the frame 1. You may make it provide in.
Further, the refrigerant is not limited to water, and may be air, for example.
In addition, the power converter cooler on which the power converter is mounted and in surface contact with the bottom surface of the power converter is an example, and the present invention can also be applied to a cooler that cools other electrical equipment. Of course.
Further, the cooling fins 5, 5A, 15, 15A, 25 and the end surfaces of the first plate 2 and the second plate 3 may be fixed by fusion welding without using a brazing material. .
Moreover, about the shape of the communication part formed in cooling fin 5, 5A, 15, 15A, 25, a rectangular shape and a circle are examples, and are not limited to these shapes.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame body, 1st board, 3rd board, 4 fitting part, 5, 5A, 15, 15A 25 Cooling fin, 6 Refrigerant inflow part, 7 Refrigerant outflow part, 8a, 8b, 18a, 18b Notch Part (communication part), 9 forward flow path, 10 return flow path, 11a, 11b, 21a, 21b hole part (communication part), 31a large hole part (communication part), 31b small hole part (communication part).

Claims (7)

A frame,
A first plate and a second plate which are provided on both sides of the frame and form a space for closing the refrigerant in cooperation with the frame;
A refrigerant inflow portion that is provided in the frame and introduces the refrigerant into the space; and a refrigerant outflow portion that flows out the refrigerant in the space to the outside;
A plurality of cooling fins arranged in parallel in the space,
The cooling fin has a communication portion through which the refrigerant passes,
The refrigerant that has flowed into the space from the refrigerant inflow portion flows out through the communication portion and the refrigerant outflow portion ,
The cooling fin is characterized in that the communication portion is formed in a plurality of different shapes, and the same cooling fin is sequentially arranged by being inverted 180 degrees vertically or horizontally . A frame,
  A first plate and a second plate which are provided on both sides of the frame and form a space for closing the refrigerant in cooperation with the frame;
  A refrigerant inflow portion that is provided in the frame and introduces the refrigerant into the space; and a refrigerant outflow portion that flows out the refrigerant in the space to the outside;
  A plurality of cooling fins arranged in parallel in the space,
  The cooling fin has a communication portion through which the refrigerant passes,
  The refrigerant that has flowed into the space from the refrigerant inflow portion flows out through the communication portion and the refrigerant outflow portion,
  The frame has a fitting portion in which a plurality of concave and convex portions are formed, and an end portion of the cooling fin is fitted into a concave portion of the fitting portion. The refrigerant inflow portion and the refrigerant outflow portion are provided at an edge portion on the same side of the frame,
The space is formed therein with a forward flow path communicating with the refrigerant inflow portion and a return flow path communicating with the refrigerant outflow portion,
Each of the cooling fins is arranged in parallel between the forward flow path and the return flow path,
The cooler according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the refrigerant flows out through the refrigerant inflow portion, the forward flow path, the communication portion, the return flow path, and the refrigerant outflow portion. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the communication part has a larger refrigerant passage area than a side closer to the refrigerant inflow part. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein both ends of the cooling fin are fixed to the first plate and the second plate by welding. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the cooling fin is formed by pressing a flat plate. The said cooler cools a power converter device, The cooler of any one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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